Carriage shifting device



Aug. 4, 1959 HlGONNET ET AL 2,897,940

CARRIAGE SHIFTING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 23, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

' RIBBON 32 M SHIFNT ----1 l FONT SHFT NONJUSTIFYING 26" KEYS TYPEWRITER PERMUTATION 28'" BARS "2O REGISTER '-'24 DECODER 34 CHZ R XS1 ER E QE SDI-3%? SELECTOR MECHANISM INVENTORS RENE HIGONNET 8 LOUIS MOYROUD BY Wm, JENNEY, wmER a. HILDRETH ATTORNEYS I Aug. 4, 1959 R. HIGONNET E AL CARRIAGE SHIFTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 23, 1947 INVENTORS.

BY KENWAY, JENNEV. WITTER & mumzm Aug. 4, 1959 HIGONNET ET AL 2,897,940

CARRIAGE SHIFTING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 23, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3

" IN VEN TORS 4 k n w W M- KFNWAYv JENNEY, WlTTER l9 HIIDRUH 1959 R. l-HGONNET ET AL 2,897,940

CARRIAGE SHIFTING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 23, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 KENWAY, JENNEY, WITTER & HlLDRUH 2,897,940 Fatented Aug. 4, 1959 CARRIAGE SHIFTIN DEVICE Rene Higonnet, Cambridge, and Louis Moyroud, West Medford, Mass., assignors to Graphic Arts Research Foundation, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 23, 1947, Serial No. 770,320,

now Patent No. 2,790,362, dated April 30, 1957. Divided and this application March 7, 1957, Serial No. 644,643

Claims priority, application France March 20, 1947 11 Claims. (Cl. 19712) The present invention relates generally to type composing apparatus, and more particularly to mechanism for shifting a carriage or the like from one predetermined position to another, the mechanism being adapted for shifts between two or more positions.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 770,320, filed August 23, 1947, now Patent No. 2,790,362.

Said application describes a photographic type composing machine having a continuously rotating drum on which a character stencil is supported. The characters are transcribed by projection on to a sensitized sheet while in motion by an intermittent flash device. The sheet is supported on a carriage having variable spacing means for spacing the characters in each line according to the variable widths thereof.

The characters are arranged on the drum in bands or rows, there being a separate band or row for each of a number of fonts. During transcription in a particular font, the corresponding band or row is located in relation to the projection apparatus so that all of the characters thereon pass successively through a fixed pro jection position.

It is an object of this invention to provide means available to the machine operator for readily shifting the drum to present any desired font in the projection position.

Another object is to provide keyboard-operated means to register instructions for a change of font, and means actuated according to the registered instructions to shift the drum to present a different font for projection.

A further object is to provide means operative to permit the use of more than one font in a single line of type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the features of the invention include a mechanism operable at any desired point in the projection of a line to shift thedrum in either longitudinal direction, dependng on the position of the new font on the drum in relation to that previously used. e

Other features reside in certain features of construction, modes of operation and arrangements of the parts which will be evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, having reference to the appended illustrative drawings, in which- Fig. l is a block diagram of a photographic type composing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the character drum; and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the register; 'Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the decoder circuit; i t

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective illustrating the font change mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating certain electrical components associated with the font change mechanism; and

Fig. 6a is a detail view of an electromagnet plunger retaining device. Block diagram Referring to Fig. 1, a non-justifying typewriter 12 is provided with a keyboard 14 and the usual platen carriage 16 over which a sheet of paper 18 is inserted. The keys are connected with permutation bars 20 as described in said application, whereby for each depressed key, a combination of seven wires in a cable 22 is energized,

. this combination comprising a code representing the particular character. The code for each selected character is stored in a register 24 comprising a number of rows and columns of depressable pins, as described in detail in said application.

The register 24 also receives code information from a set of font shift keys 26, these keys being connected with the register as indicated at 28. The font shift keys are also connected by three wires 30 with a ribbon shift mechanism 32. The ribbon shift mechanism determines the color of the character that is typed on the sheet 18 and is fully described in said application.

The coded information corresponding to characters and fonts is stored in the register 24 a line at a time. When the line is ready for transcription, the information is read into a decoder 34. The decoder determines whether a particular code relates to character selection or to a change of font. Appropriate wires in a cable 36 leading to a rough character selector 38 are energized. The rough character selector is mechanically associated with a character drum 39 and determines the moment when the selected character on the drum is in projection position since, as previously indicated, the characters are continuously moved through this position during the operation of the machine. If the decoded information relates to a change of font, appropriate connections through a cable 40 are made to a drum shift mechanism 42 herein after more fully described. The drum shift mechanism determines the longitudinal position of the rows of characters on the drum 39 in relation to the projection position.

It will thus be seen that selection of a font shift key has two functions: first, to enter an appropriate code in the register 24, and second, to operate the ribbon shift mechanism 32, thereby causing the characters subsequently selected to appear in a corresponding color upon the copy sheet 18.

Photographic unit The character selector 38 and drum shift mechanism. 42 (Figs. 5 and 6) are mechanically associated with the character drum 39 shown in Fig. 2. The drum may be constructed of transparent plastic. As described in said application, a master character sheet 46 is wrapped over 55" the surface of the drum. A number of such sheets may be made available for use on the machine alternatively. The sheet 44 may be opaque except for a number of rows 48 of characters, each row containing a different font, and a similar number of rows 50 of transparent slits. The purpose of the slits is to generate light impulses whenever a character on the master sheet passes in photographic position, as described in said application. It will suffice for present purposes to say that a photocell 52 is arranged opposite one of the rows 50 with a light source 54 disposed so as to project light to a reflector 56 within the cylinder, the reflected light striking the photocell 52 each time the beam is intercepted by a slit. There is a slit for each character of the row 48 disposed opposite a projection lens 58, wl1ereby a photoelectric impulse is generated by a slit at the precise moment when its corresponding character is in projection position opposite the lens 58. An intermittent flash device 59 is energized only when a photoelectric impulse occurs during the period-when-the character selector 38 is operated, as fully shown and described in said application. The image of the selected character illuminated by the flash device is projected onto a-sensitized sheet 60 supportedon-a film carriage 62. The carriage is arranged forvariably spacing the characters in a line as well as for line spacing. The selection of the desired character for projection is accomplished by the rough character selector 38-.which includes an array of terminals 64 on a stationarydisk z 65 and a plurality of brushes 66 adapted to be revolved by a motor 68 which also rotates the drum 39. The brushes.66 are secured to a shaft 70 revolved by the motor. 68. The drum is mounted 011,3 carriage 72 for I longitudinal translation in accordance .with the lfont ,selected.

Register application, but its operation may be ascertained for present purposes from Fig. 3 which is a plan view thereof.

-.There is provided a flat support having a number of rows and columns of.depressable pins 74. Eachpin may be moved independently to either of two stable positions, an actuated" position as indicated at 76 and an ,unactuated position as indicated at 78. Assuming thatthe field of pins is oriented in a vertical plane, a hammercarriage 80 is supported on one side of the field, and is provided with a vertical column of seven hammers 82 adapted to align with the pins a column at a time. The seven hammers ,82 are energized through the leads in the cable,22. After each character is selected, the hammer caniageSO is advanced to the next column as described in said application.

On the otherside of the field of pins 76 is supported a reading carriage 84. This carriage is moved one step at a time independently of the hammer carriage80 by actuation of an escapement mechanism 86 cooperating with a rack 88 rigidly connected to the carriage 84 and constantly urged by a spiral spring enclosed in a casing 90,

the spring acting on a cord 92 through defiectingrollers.

A series of seven contacts 94arranged in. a vertical column cooperate with the decoder 34, being connected theretoby corresponding leads 96. These contacts are mounted on the carriage 84 and are actuated by feelers details of the construction of the register, reference is ,merely made to the above-mentioned applicatlon, the

description in which is incorporated herein by reference.

Decoder Referring t'Figx4, it will be seen :that the leadsr96 from the register are ,connectedwith a corresponding set ofseven decoder magnets 100 to 112. The reading carriageg 84 advances step by step and thus energizes. the

relays of the decoder in successive code combinations .cor-

responding to the letters of the stored line. The'flashing .of the characters through the control of the decoder relays is controlled so that it can occur only during alternate cycles of the master drum. The carriage'84 is stepped during opposite altemate cycles of the drum, during .which no photography occurs.

The relays'100 to 112 are provided with fanning-out contacts leading to a number of wires 114-,v eachwire'being connected with an individual terminal64. The'contacts of the relays100to 106 are connected with a ground con- ,nection 116,-.while thoseofthe relays. 108, -110 and 112 are connected withthe brushes. 66. An output lead 118 4 may thus be grounded through contacts 120 operated by a timing cam 122, contacts of-therelays 108, 110 and 112, the brushes 66 and contacts 64, contacts of the relays 100 to 106, and the connection 116. The ground on the output lead 118 occurs at a selected moment depending upon the combination of the relays 100 to 112 that is energized, this combination causing the ground to occur during the time interval when the selected character is in projection position. 'The connection of the lead 118 to the flash control circuit and the-details of the controls thereof are fully described in said application.

As has been previously explained, the font of the characters is also controlled by a code combination recorded in the register. At the decoding stage, when a registered code combination corresponding to'a change of font is read, the relays to 112 are energized in an appropriate combination to connect the ground 116 with one of the group of leads 40. This code combination is registered in a separate column of pins and controls the font of the characters inthe following .columns,.until a new font change combination is reached.

Drum shift mechanism The Wires 40, which are selectively energized whenithe reading unit of the register finds a registered code representing a change of font, are connected with a font change device as indicated in Fig. 6. The circuit of Fig. 6 is connected with a row of electromagnets such as .126 (Fig. 5) by a set of wires 128. The apparatus of Figs.

'5 and 6 comprises the mechanism-42 to slide the drum carriage 72 and lock it in the selected position. -The carriage 72 slides on a base 130. (See also Fig.l2.) -A series of combs 132 cooperate with a series of stop levers 134 to stop the carriagein a predetermined position. The

stop levers 134 are pivotedat 136 and normally held by springs 138 clear of: a stop 140 attached to the carriage 72. Each lever may be rocked counterclockwise as illustrated in Fig. 5 by a corresponding solenoid such as 126. The carriage 72 is constantly urged in one direction by a spring 141 as indicated by the arrow F in Figs. 5 and 6,

. but an electromagnet 142 may be energized to move the carriage in the opposite direction. A series of insulated brushes 144 to 154, one for each of the possible positions of the'drum, are secured to the base 130. Each solenoid such as 126 is controlled by a corresponding code combination stored in the register, and the selected solenoid is energized during two cycles of the character drum to permit a new row of characters to be brought opposite the photographic lens. The timing of this control is provided by the cam means fully described in said application.

A pair of plates 156 and 158, the former conducting and the latter insulating, are mounted on the carriage 72.

winding of one of a set of electromagnets 162 to 172,

there being one of these electromagnets for each of the solenoids such as 126. The other terminal of the electromagnets 162 to 172 are connected-in comrnonto a battery. Each of these electromagnets is provided with a plunger such as 174 (Fig. 6a), the plunger having a .groove' 176 cooperating with a plate 178. The plate is pressed against all of the plungers by a spring 180. The

plate 178 holds in the operated position any plunger of Van electromagnet that has been momentarily energized,

such as for example the plunger 174 in Fig. 6. Thediameter of the plunger is such that whenanother plunger is operated it will disengage the plunger held in'operated positionby theplate 178. In this way, there maybe only .one plunger in operated position at atime. The plungers close corresponding contacts 182 to 192 when in operated '156 to the electromagnet 142.

position, the contacts being connected at one terminal in common to a battery, and at the other terminal to corresponding electromagnets such as 126, by wires 128 (Figs. 5 and 6).

The arrangement is such that when one of the electro magnets 162 to 172 is operated, the carriage 72 will move either in the direction of arrow F or in the opposite direction depending on which of the electromagnets 112 to 172 was previously in operated position. If, for example, the code combination corresponding to bold facetypes is such that a ground is applied by the decoding relays (Fig. 4) to a wire 194 (Fig. 6) this ground will cause a plunger 196 to be energized, closing contacts 182 and releasing the plungerv 174 which opens its associated con tacts. The contacts 182 supply a battery current to an electromagnet such as 126 and this electromagnet rocks a stop lever such as 134 which moves into the path of member 140. On the other hand, the wire 194 also connects a ground to the brush 154 leading through the plate The last-mentioned electromagnet will be energized as long as contact continues between the brush 154 and the plate 156. It pulls the carriage 72 in the direction opposite the arrow F and, due to inertia, continues to pull until a short time after the brush 154 ceases to make contact with the plate 156. Thereafter, the spring 141 will bring the carriage 72 back in the direction of the arrow F into contact with the actuated stop such as 134. The member 140 is provided with a cam surface 198 so that it may continue to move in the direction opposite the arrow F:

as mentioned above, even if it meets the actuated stop member such as 134.

If, instead of applying a ground on the wire 194 this ground is applied to a wire 200, a plunger 202 releases the plunger 174 from the locking plate 178 and closes its contacts 190. The corresponding stop lever rocks and moves into the path of the member 140. On the other hand, a ground is applied to the brush 146, but this ground is ineffective since this brush is then in contact with the insulating plate 158. The carriage 72 is re leased by the stop lever associated with the contacts 186 and moves until the member 140 abuts the stop lever associated with the contacts 190, under the force of the spring 141. As may be seen in the drawing, when the carriage is at rest in any of its different positions, the brush corresponding to this position is not in contact with the conductive plate 156. The stop positions of the carriage 72 may be determined with a high degree of precision since the spring 141 brings it to its final position and the stop mechanism is independent of play which may be present in the mechanism.

The device described above may also be used to control the displacement of other members of the machine, for example a lens turret 204 (Fig. l) for bringing any one of a number of selectable lenses into photographic position, or a set of gears associated with the spacing movements of the film carriage, fully described in said application.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that we have providedmeans operable by a coded signal in a register to shift the drum for font selection. The mechanism is characterized by simplicity of construction consistent with the precise requirements of positioning the drum in relation to the projection apparatus. The shifting movements are very fast because the direction thereof is the same as the longitudinal direction of the new font in relation to the old one.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the carriage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition in front of said stop member, a circuit to actuate said interference members according to a selected position of the carriage, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and means operative to move the carriage in the opposite direction if and only if the selected position is in said opposite direction from the previous position.

2. Apparatus for accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the carriage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition infront of said stop member, a circuit to actuate said interference members to interpose one member and withdraw a mem ber previously interposed simultaneously according to a selected position of the carriage, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and means operative to move the carriage in the opposite direction if and only if the selected position is in said opposite direction from the previous position.

3. Apparatus for accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the car riage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition in front of said stop member, a circuit to actuate said interference members according to a selected position of the carriage, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and means including a device to move the carriage in the opposite direction, a conductive element on the carriage and a number of brushes in spaced relation to said conductive element, said element and brushes completing a circuit to energize said last-mentioned device if carriage, a number of accurately positioned intenference members supported for selective interposition in front of said stop member, a circuit to actuate said interference members according to a selected position of the carriage, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and means including a device to move the carriage in the opposite direction, conductive and nonconductive elements on the carriage and a number of spaced brushes to make contact with one or the other of said elements according to the position of the carriage, said conductive element and brushes completing a circuit to energize said last-mentioned device if and only if the selected position is in said opposite direction from the previous position.

5. Apparatus for accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the carriage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition in front of said stop member, a circuit to actuate said interference members according to a selected position of the carriage, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and means operative to move the carriage in the opposite direction if and only if the selected position is in said opposite direction (from the previous position, said stop member having a cam surface operative to permit it to pass any interposed interference member while moving in said opposite direction.

6. Apparatus for accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the carriage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition in front of said stop member, a circuit comprising a number of leads selectively energizable according to a selected position of the carriage, conductive and nonconductive elements on the carriage, a number of spaced brushes connected with the last-mentioned leads to make contact with one or the other of said plates according to the position of the carriage, interlocking magnet means connected with the lastmentioned leads and having contacts, each magnet means being adapted when energized to release any previously energized magnet and to hold its own contacts closed, said contacts of the magnet means having circuits to operate corresponding interference members, means continuously tending to urge the carriage in one direction, and a,

, device tomove the carriage in the opposite direction, said conductive element and brushes completing a circuit to energizesaid last-mentioned device if and only if: the

v.selectedposition is'in "said opposite direction fromthe 7 previous position.

7. Apparatusfor accurately indexing a movable carriage comprising,-in combination, a stop member on the carriage, a number of accurately positioned interference members supported for selective interposition in front of members to make contact with one or the other of said elements according to the position of the carriage, said conductive element and brushes completing a circuit to energize said last-mentioned device if and only ifthe selected position is in said opposite direction from the previous position.

8. Apparatus for accuratelyindexing a movable carriage comprising, in combination, a stop member on the carriage, an accurately positioned interference member supported for interposition in the path of said stop member to engage it accurately in a selected position of the carriage, a circuit permitting said interference member to engage said stop member when the carriage is in said selected position, means operative to move the carriage in one direction, means includingv a device to move the carriage in the opposite direction, the carriage havingra conductive element with anonconductive area adjacentto theconductive element, and a number of brushes spaced yin a'manner corresponding to the selectablevpositionsof the carriage to make contact with the conductive element r or hto .reach saidnonconductive..area.according to the position of -thecarriage, said .conductive': element and Jbrushes. completing. a circuit to energize said last-men- -,tioneddeviceif and only if the selectedposition is in said ,oppositedirection from the previous position.

1O -9. Apparatus according to .claim 8 including circuits for selectively energizing the brushes according to corresponding .selected positions ofwthe carriage.

10. Apparatus accordingto claim 8.in'which the vdevice'to move=the carriage'in the opposite direction, when energized,continues tomove said carriage. until thecor- 7 responding selectedbrush moves from the conductive element to thenonconductive area.

, 11.. Apparatus according to claim &m which the. device ;.to.move thercarriage in the opposite. direction, when energized, continues to move.said,carriageruntilh'the correzlspondingselected brush' moves .from the. conductive elementuto vthehnonconductive area, the boundary/of .said a conductive element withsaid-nonconductive area roughly determining the position of the carriage, saidrstop member 25 and interference member being operative to determine the precise. position. of the carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED' STATES "PATENTS Kao Dec. 17, 1946 Buhler Jam-4, 1-949 

